By Chad Waller, Director of Communications and Sports Information

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Sarah Elizabeth Cousar of Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) has been tabbed as the NAIA National Softball Pitcher of the Week and Caroline Sicht of William Woods (Mo.) has been named the NAIA National Softball Player of the Week, the national office announced Tuesday. The duo was chosen based on their performances from April 8 – 14 out of a pool of conference player of the week selections among 21 conference/independent/unaffiliated groupings.

Cousar, a 5-foot-8 junior from Covington, Tenn., led the Lions to a 4-0 week as she was part of all pitching decisions.  For the week, she allowed two unearned runs in 25 innings pitched and fanned 41 batters. She walked just one and allowed 14 overall hits. She set a career-high with 15 strikeouts in a complete-game 9-1 win over Mid-Continent (Ky.) April 10. She also went the full seven-innings in the 4-0 victory against Blue Mountain (Miss.) April 8 – she struck out 10 and gave up four hits.

On the year, Cousar ranks eighth in total wins (18) and total strikeouts (159) and ninth in opponent batting average (.163).

Sicht, a 5-foot-4 sophomore infielder from Columbia, Mo., batted .818 with nine RBI and nine runs scored during a 5-0 week for the Owls. She went 9-for-11 overall from the dish, which included three games of two-or-more hits. In the 18-1 win over Stephens (Mo.) on April 13, Sicht posted three hits, three runs and four RBI. Also in that contest, she smacked her team-leading fourth home run of the season. Overall, she tallied four extra base hits, which included three homers.

On the season, Sicht is second on the team in batting (.340) and third in RBI (15).

The next installment of the Player of the Week will be announced on April 23.

For a complete listing of all the national statistical leaders, click here.

Player Nominees: Shelby Johnson, Northwood (Texas); Allyssa Zebrowski, UVa-Wise; Katie Rowe, College of Idaho; Kelli Nicholson, Friends (Kan.); Emily Craig, Concordia (Calif.); Taylor Murray, Taylor (Ind.); Brittany Arredondo, Houston-Victoria (Texas); Shelby Cummings, Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.); Whitney Matlack, Mount Mercy (Iowa); Summer Kelley, Baker (Kan.); Erin Mayes, Madonna (Mich.); Cj Browder, South Carolina Beaufort; Brittany Stevenot, Oklahoma Wesleyan; Hannah Cook-Kelley, William Carey (Miss.); Megan Blythe, West Virginia Tech; Jordan Batliner, Indiana Southeast; Lindsey Remien, Northwestern (Iowa); Hannah Smith, Tennessee Wesleyan; Megan Sullivan, Lubbock Christian (Texas); Breihanna Castilleja, William Jessup (Calif.); Ariel Hinton, Saint Xavier (Ill.); Marrissa Brimm, Fisk (Tenn.).

Pitcher Nominees: Rachel Hawks, UVa-Wise; Nickayla Skinner, College of Idaho; Christina Tyler, Friends (Kan.); Ciara Fraher, Southwest (N.M.); Cassie Daniels, Auburn Montgomery (Ala.); Alex Holland, Houston-Victoria (Texas); Catie Flaucher, Mount Mercy (Iowa); Mackenzie Bowden, William Woods (Mo.); Bree Crampton, Madonna (Mich.); Kristy Cook, South Carolina Beaufort; Bailee Packett, Virginia Intermont; Mariah Gibson, Saint Mary (Neb.); Jordan Batliner, Indiana Southeast; Jordan Johnson, Morningside (Iowa); Natalie Newell, Bethel (Ind.); Aubrey Utley, Central Methodist (Mo.); Andrea Lutz, William Jessup (Calif.); Devon Frazier, St. Gregory's (Okla.); Megan Nonnemacher, Saint Xavier (Ill.); Amber Victory, Fisk (Tenn.); Liz Gonzalez, Hope International (Calif.).

2013 Softball Weekly Honors (Pitcher; Player):
Week 1 (March 12): Caitlin Santefort, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.); Latainna Eltsosie, Lubbock Christian (Texas)
Week 2 (March 19): Katie Cotta, Concordia (Calif.); Stephanie Nippert, Corban (Ore.)
Week 3 (March 26): Ashley Suter, Concordia (Ore.); Kate Santos, Concordia (Ore.)
Week 4 (April 2): Erin Greenwood, Baker (Kan.); Kristen Bodyk, Peru State (Neb.)
Week 5 (April 9): Caroline Sagrera, Spring Hill (Ala.); Denee’ Crawford, Belhaven (Miss.)
Week 6 (April 16): Sarah Elizabeth Cousar, Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.); Caroline Sicht, William Woods (Mo.)